DE102019132634A1 - Road traffic monitoring device and road traffic monitoring system - Google Patents

Abstract

A device (1) for road traffic monitoring is specified, which comprises a measuring unit (20), a processing unit (30), a data memory (40) and a communication interface (50). The measuring unit (20) is set up to record local environmental parameters, the local environmental parameters including a speed of vehicles passing by the device, a time stamp and a location coordinate of the device. The processing unit (30) is designed to determine at least one characteristic value as a function of at least one local environmental parameter. The data memory (40) is set up to store the local environmental parameters and characteristic values. The communication interface (50) is designed to communicate at least one characteristic value to further devices (1) for monitoring road traffic and is designed to communicate at least one characteristic value to at least one vehicle (5).
A system (S) for road traffic monitoring is also specified.

Description

A device for road traffic monitoring and a system for road traffic monitoring are specified.

In today's vehicles, a plurality of sensors for recording environmental parameters is often provided in order to provide the vehicle driver with safety-relevant environmental parameters if necessary. For example, a temperature sensor records the temperature of the ambient air and warns the driver of slippery terrain when the temperature drops.

However, the recording of environmental parameters in vehicles is limited by the maximum range of the sensors used. For example, an obstacle behind a hilltop or an obstacle behind a curve that cannot be seen cannot be detected, or can only be detected immediately before the obstacle is reached.

The device for road traffic monitoring described here makes use, inter alia, of the idea of recording local environmental parameters, forming characteristic values therefrom and transmitting these characteristic values to a vehicle by means of a communication interface.

The system for road traffic monitoring described here makes use, among other things, of the idea of recording environmental parameters by means of at least two devices, of forming characteristic values therefrom, of exchanging these characteristic values with one another and of transmitting them to a vehicle.

This advantageously enables the transmission of characteristic values from devices located in front of the vehicle in the direction of travel. In particular, a predictive supply of the vehicle with environmental parameters from the route section lying in front of it is thus made possible. As a result, the vehicle driver can be warned at an early stage or even an active braking intervention can be carried out in order to avoid an accident or to mitigate its consequences.

One problem to be solved consists in specifying a device for road traffic monitoring and a system for road traffic monitoring which, in relation to one another, records the environmental parameter and communicates it to a passing vehicle.

The object is achieved by the independent patent claims. Advantageous refinements are characterized in the subclaims.

According to at least one embodiment, the device for road traffic monitoring comprises a measuring unit, a processing unit, a data memory and a communication interface.

The measuring unit is used to record local environmental parameters, the local environmental parameters including a speed of vehicles passing by the device, a time stamp and a location coordinate of the device. The measuring unit comprises, for example, a plurality of sensors which are set up to record the environmental parameters. In particular, in the case of a multi-lane roadway, the device is set up to determine the speed of passing cars separately for each lane. For example, an average speed can be determined for each of the lanes on a motorway.

The processing unit is designed to determine at least one characteristic value as a function of at least one local environmental parameter. In particular, the processing unit comprises an integrated circuit which is set up to calculate characteristic values from entered environmental parameters. For example, an average speed is determined from a plurality of speed values.

The data memory is set up to store the characteristic values. For example, the data memory is set up to store a certain number of characteristic values and overwrites the oldest value with a new value when a maximum number of characteristic values is reached. The data memory is preferably formed with a magnetic or semiconductor memory.

The communication interface is designed to communicate at least one characteristic value to further devices for road traffic monitoring. In particular, the devices for road traffic monitoring include the features and combinations of features described in the present case. An exchange of characteristic values between different devices can thus take place.

The communication interface is designed to communicate at least one characteristic value on at least one vehicle. The communication interface includes, in particular, one or more communication modules, each of which communicates with other devices and / or vehicles by means of a radio link.

According to at least one embodiment of the device, the local environmental parameters include at least one of the following parameters: Temperature of an ambient air, temperature of a road, wetness of a road.

According to at least one embodiment of the device, the characteristic value of a black ice risk is formed from the local environmental parameters of the temperature of the roadway and the wetness of the roadway. For example, if the temperature falls below a value of 4 ° C and the simultaneous occurrence of moisture on the roadway, the characteristic value of the risk of black ice must be established.

According to at least one embodiment of the device, a characteristic value of the traffic density is formed from the local environmental parameters of the speed of vehicles passing by the device. The characteristic value of the traffic density can be used to read, for example, whether a traffic jam has formed or whether the journey is clear. In the case of a multi-lane roadway, the evaluation is particularly advantageously carried out separately for each roadway. On a motorway, for example, it can be detected whether a traffic jam has spread to just one or all of the lanes.

According to at least one embodiment of the device, the device is arranged in a housing body. The housing body protects the device in particular from external environmental influences. The device is preferably protected from mechanical damage by the housing body.

According to at least one embodiment of the device, the housing body is a guide post or a guide beacon. Delineator posts are already an integral part of the public road traffic area. A simple integration of the device into already existing road traffic structures is advantageously possible in this way.

According to at least one embodiment of the device, the communication interface is designed to communicate at least one characteristic value to at least one vehicle via a radio link. A radio connection is advantageously not tied to a fixed connection between transmitter and receiver and thus enables simple communication between communication participants who move against each other. Communication with passing vehicles is advantageously facilitated by means of a radio link.

The system for road traffic monitoring comprises at least two devices according to one of the preceding embodiments, the devices being designed to exchange characteristic values by means of their communication interface. The devices are thus able to take over the characteristic values of neighboring devices in their data memory.

Furthermore, the devices are designed to collect and store their characteristic values and the characteristic values that were determined by means of the communication interface by other devices and to transmit them to at least one vehicle. For example, a vehicle thus receives characteristic values of a device located far in front of it in the direction of travel, while the vehicle is not yet close enough to the device in front of it to receive the characteristic value of this device directly. In other words, the devices in between act as relay stations. In this way, a timely reaction to the transmitted characteristic values is advantageously made possible before a hazard point is reached. For example, a braking process will be initiated in good time before the danger zone is reached that a collision can be avoided.

According to at least one embodiment of the system, the devices are arranged along a roadway. In this way, the passing vehicles are advantageously supplied with environmental parameters and characteristic values from devices that are in front of the vehicles in the direction of travel.

According to at least one embodiment of the system, the devices are arranged equidistantly at least in some areas. An equidistant arrangement of the devices enables a simple determination of average speeds of vehicles driving past the devices. For example, each individual device only determines a location and a point in time of a vehicle and an average speed is calculated from the equidistant distances when determining a point in time and a location of the passing vehicle at the subsequent device.

According to at least one embodiment of the system, the system has at least 10 devices. With a distance of 50 m between individual devices, this results in a distance of 500 m between a first and a last device in the system. Since all devices exchange their characteristic values with one another, the first device also knows a characteristic value that has been determined by the last device. A vehicle driving past the first device of the system can consequently already be transmitted a characteristic value from the last device by the first device. The vehicle is thus already informed of the environmental parameters prevailing there 500 m before reaching the last device, such as a sharply decreasing average speed, and can react accordingly. For example, such a braking process takes place in order to avoid an accident.

According to at least one embodiment of the system, the system receives an external environmental parameter that was recorded by a vehicle and, using a processing unit, determines at least one characteristic value as a function of at least the external environmental parameter and stores this in a data memory. For example, a sensor value recorded by the vehicle, in particular the speed of the vehicle, is transmitted from the vehicle to the device as an external environmental parameter and a characteristic value formed therefrom is stored in the data memory.

According to at least one embodiment of the system, the system transmits a signal to brake passing vehicles as a function of the characteristic values. In particular, the system thus automatically brakes passing vehicles without the intervention of a vehicle driver. For example, the risk of black ice accidents or, for example, approaching the end of a traffic jam can be avoided.

Exemplary embodiments of the device and the system are explained in more detail below with reference to the schematic drawings.

• 1 eine schematische Ansicht eines Systems gemäß einem ersten Ausführungsbeispiel,
• 2 eine schematische Draufsicht auf eine Mehrzahl von Vorrichtungen gemäß einem ersten Ausführungsbeispiel,
• 3 eine schematische Draufsicht auf ein System gemäß einem zweiten Ausführungsbeispiel, und
• 4 eine schematische Draufsicht auf ein System gemäß einem dritten Ausführungsbeispiel.

Show it:

• 1 a schematic view of a system according to a first embodiment,
• 2 a schematic plan view of a plurality of devices according to a first embodiment,
• 3rd a schematic plan view of a system according to a second embodiment, and
• 4th a schematic plan view of a system according to a third embodiment.

Elements of the same construction or function are provided with the same reference symbols in all the figures.

In 1 is a system S. shown according to a first embodiment. The system S. includes two devices 1 . Any of the devices 1 each includes a measuring unit 20th , a processing unit 30th , a data store 40 and a communication interface 50 .

The unit of measurement 20th has at least one sensor 200 and is set up to record local environmental parameters. The local environmental parameters are, for example, a temperature of the ambient air, a temperature of the roadway, a speed of the device 1 passing vehicle 5 , a visibility, or an amount of precipitation.

The processing unit 30th comprises, for example, an integrated circuit and is set up to determine characteristic values as a function of at least one local environmental parameter. For example, the processing unit determines 30th from a certain number of measured velocities of several on the device 1 passing vehicles a characteristic value of an average speed.

The data store 40 preferably has a magnetic or semiconductor memory and is used to store characteristic values from the processing unit 30th .

Using the communication interface 50 communicates every device 1 with other devices 1 and with vehicles 5 . In particular, the communication interface is set up for wireless communication by means of a radio link. For example, the communication interface includes 50 a wireless LAN interface, a Bluetooth interface, or an ultra-short wave interface. Via the communication interface 50 swap fixtures 1 Characteristic values from each other and give the characteristic values to vehicles 5 further. The communication interface is used in particular 50 also for receiving external environmental parameters from vehicles 5 be sent out.

Multiple devices 1 form a system S. . For example, includes a system S. ten identical devices 1 .

Along an in 2 shown roadway 6th for vehicles 5 are a first device IX , a second device 1Y and a third device 1Z arranged. The devices IX , 1Y and 1Z are each at a distance A. , so arranged equidistant. Because of the same distances A. between the devices IX , 1Y and 1Z This results in a particularly simple determination of an average speed of passing vehicles 5 .

As in 2 Presented as an exemplary situation, can be on the roadway 6th in the direction of travel of the vehicle 5 a danger spot 60 are located. The first device 1X captures the danger point 60 as a local environmental parameter in the measurement unit 20th and forms in the processing unit 30th a corresponding characteristic value. Using the communication interfaces in the devices IX , 1Y and 1Z the characteristic values are exchanged between the first device IX , the second device 1Y and the third device 1Z . Thus, the vehicle can 5 already when passing the third device 1Z early before by the first device 1X detected danger point 60 be warned and initiate an appropriate response. For example, the vehicle has 5 a vehicle driver to the hazard point and / or it initiates a controlled braking process.

In particular, the devices are arranged 1 at special danger spots along the road. Particular danger areas are, for example, congestion centers, places with an increased risk of black ice, sections of a roadway that are difficult to see 6th or bridge structures.

3rd Figure 3 shows a schematic view of a system S. according to the second embodiment with three devices 1 and a vehicle 5 . The vehicle 5 receives characteristics of the devices 1 . The characteristics of the devices 1 are from the fixtures 1 determined as a function of at least one local environmental parameter. The devices 1 communicate their determined parameters with each other within the system S. and store these characteristic values in a data memory 40 from. Via one communication interface each 50 conveys each device 1 Characteristic values on the vehicle 5 . The vehicle 5 is set up to receive the characteristic values.

4th Figure 3 shows a schematic view of a system S. according to the third embodiment with three devices 1 and a vehicle 5 . The vehicle 5 receives characteristics of the devices 1 . The characteristics of the devices 1 are from the fixtures 1 determined as a function of at least one local environmental parameter. The vehicle also sends 5 even external environmental parameters and / or characteristic values to the devices 1 . The vehicle 5 is set up to record external environmental parameters, for example its current speed. In particular, the vehicle is 5 set up to determine a characteristic value as a function of at least one external environmental parameter. The vehicle 5 is set up both to receive characteristic values and to send characteristic values.

The devices 1 communicate their determined parameters, as well as those of the vehicle 5 received external environmental parameters and / or characteristic values with one another within the system S. and store these characteristic values in a data memory 40 from. Via a communication interface 50 conveys each device 1 in turn, characteristic values for the vehicle 5 .

A following vehicle can therefore be advantageous 5 the external environmental parameters and / or characteristic values of a vehicle in front 5 received and thus in good time before danger spots 60 be warned.

List of reference symbols

S.

system

1

contraption

1X

first device

1Y

second device

1Z

third device

5

vehicle

6th

roadway

60

Danger point

20th

Measuring unit

200

sensor

30th

Processing unit

40

Data storage

50

Communication interface

A.

distance

Claims (13)

Device (1) for road traffic monitoring, comprising a measuring unit (20), a processing unit (30), a data memory (40) and a communication interface (50), wherein - The measuring unit (20) is set up to record local environmental parameters, the local environmental parameters including a speed of vehicles passing by the device, a time stamp and a location coordinate of the device, - The processing unit (30) is designed to determine at least one characteristic value as a function of at least one local environmental parameter, - the data memory (40) is set up to store the characteristic values, - The communication interface (50) is designed to communicate at least one characteristic value to further devices (1) for monitoring road traffic, and - The communication interface (50) is designed to communicate at least one characteristic value to at least one vehicle (5). Device (1) for road traffic monitoring according to the preceding claim, in which the local environmental parameters comprise at least one of the following parameters: temperature of an ambient air, temperature of a roadway, wetness of a roadway. Device (1) for road traffic monitoring according to Claim 2 , in which - the characteristic value of a black ice risk is formed from the local environmental parameters of the temperature of the road and the wetness of the road. Device (1) for road traffic monitoring according to one of the preceding claims, in which - A characteristic value of the traffic density is formed from the local environmental parameters of the speed of vehicles (5) passing by the device. Device (1) for road traffic monitoring according to one of the preceding claims, in which - The device (1) is arranged in a housing body. Device (1) for road traffic monitoring according to Claim 5 where - the housing body is a delineator post. Device (1) for road traffic monitoring according to one of the preceding claims, in which the communication interface (50) is designed to communicate at least one characteristic value to at least one vehicle (5) via a radio link. System (S) for road traffic monitoring, comprising at least two devices (1) according to Claim 1 , wherein - the devices (1) are designed to exchange characteristic values by means of their communication interfaces (50), and wherein - the devices (1) are designed to have their characteristic values and the characteristic values that are transmitted by other devices (1 ) were transmitted, collected, stored and sent to at least one vehicle. System (S) for road traffic monitoring according to Claim 7 In which - the devices (1) are arranged along a roadway (6). System (S) for road traffic monitoring according to one of the Claims 8 and 9 In which - the devices (1) are arranged equidistantly at least in some areas. System (S) for road traffic monitoring according to one of the Claims 7 to 9 , which has at least 10 devices (1). System (S) for road traffic monitoring according to one of the Claims 7 to 11 , which receives an external environmental parameter that was recorded by a vehicle (5), and by means of the processing unit (30) determines at least one characteristic value as a function of at least the external environmental parameter and stores it in the data memory (40). System (S) for road traffic monitoring according to one of the Claims 8 to 12th , which sends a braking signal to passing vehicles (5) as a function of the characteristic values.

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